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Peer-reviewedCC BYGeoscientific model development

The Radiative Forcing Model Intercomparison Project (RFMIP2.0) for CMIP7

  • Ryan J. Kramer1
  • Chris Smith2,3
  • Timothy Andrews4,5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, NOAA, Princeton, NJ, USA
  2. 2Department of Water and Climate, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  3. 3International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
  4. 4Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, UK
  5. 5School for Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, UK
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Abstract

An external perturbation to the climate system from anthropogenic or natural activity first impacts the climate by inducing a perturbation to Earth’s energy budget, known as a radiative forcing. The characteristics of the radiative forcing, such as its global-mean magnitude and spatial pattern, determine the subsequent climate response. Therefore, forming accurate projections of climate change first requires diagnosing radiative forcing and evaluating its persistent uncertainty in Global Climate Models. As part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 7 (CMIP7), the second iteration of the Radiative Forcing Model Intercomparison Project (RFMIP2.0) will enable the systematic characterization of effective radiative forcing and its components across state-of-the-art climate models, through a set of fixed-Sea Surface Temperature timeslice and transient experiments. The protocol for RFMIP2.0, introduced here, will in part serve as a continuity and an expansion of core RFMIP experiments first introduced in CMIP6, some of which have now been incorporated into the overarching CMIP7 DECK and FastTrack protocols given their broad utility. This will allow for a consistent estimate for radiative forcing across multiple model generations, which is valuable for model evaluation and future development. RFMIP2.0 also includes new experiments that will address open questions about the definition of radiative forcing, such as its sensitivity to evolving surface conditions, and will further enhance an ever-growing swath of science applications that rely on an understanding of Earth’s energy budget.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kramer2026radiative,
  title = {{The Radiative Forcing Model Intercomparison Project (RFMIP2.0) for CMIP7}},
  author = {Ryan J. Kramer and Chris Smith and Timothy Andrews},
  journal = {Geoscientific model development},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.5194/gmd-19-4447-2026},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-4447-2026},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Radiative Forcing Model Intercomparison Project (RFMIP2.0) for CMIP7
AU  - Ryan J. Kramer
AU  - Chris Smith
AU  - Timothy Andrews
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/26
JO  - Geoscientific model development
DO  - 10.5194/gmd-19-4447-2026
UR  - https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-4447-2026
AB  - An external perturbation to the climate system from anthropogenic or natural activity first impacts the climate by inducing a perturbation to Earth’s energy budget, known as a radiative forcing. The characteristics of the radiative forcing, such as its global-mean magnitude and spatial pattern, determine the subsequent climate response. Therefore, forming accurate projections of climate change first requires diagnosing radiative forcing and evaluating its persistent uncertainty in Global Climate Models. As part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 7 (CMIP7), the second iteration of the Radiative Forcing Model Intercomparison Project (RFMIP2.0) will enable the systematic characterization of effective radiative forcing and its components across state-of-the-art climate models, through a set of fixed-Sea Surface Temperature timeslice and transient experiments. The protocol for RFMIP2.0, introduced here, will in part serve as a continuity and an expansion of core RFMIP experiments first introduced in CMIP6, some of which have now been incorporated into the overarching CMIP7 DECK and FastTrack protocols given their broad utility. This will allow for a consistent estimate for radiative forcing across multiple model generations, which is valuable for model evaluation and future development. RFMIP2.0 also includes new experiments that will address open questions about the definition of radiative forcing, such as its sensitivity to evolving surface conditions, and will further enhance an ever-growing swath of science applications that rely on an understanding of Earth’s energy budget.
SN  - 1991-959X
SN  - 1991-9603
ER  -